Light Night is coming to Leeds this week

Caption: An artist's impression of the Civic Hall transformed into the Theatre of Illumination.

Light Night Leeds will be celebrating its 10th anniversary as it returns to Leeds this week.

As the darkness falls on Friday 3rd October, locals and visitors can come and see the city in a new light with over 50 free arts events coming to life across the city from 5pm until late.

Highlights for this year’s event include the Civic Hall being transformed into a spectacular Theatre of Illumination. Commissioned by Leeds Inspired and created by Omni pictures, the building’s architecture will be propelled into the next century with the explosive energy of a firework display.

Other events include the University of Leeds marking the centenary of World War One with Akeela Bertrams’ sound and light installation, Chorus, with themed ghost stories performed in the Brotherton Library. LightTAG will offer an exciting interactive exhibition that fuses art with science, allowing participants to create their own pieces of media art while learning the science behind light and photography.

This year, thanks to funding from Arts Council England, Light Night is proud to be supporting and showcasing work by new and emerging artists through the SHINE programme. Work includes Anna Politiko’s Ghost Tram, which brings a horse drawn tram back to Briggate and populates it with passengers from a bygone age, and Nick Kidd’s Squishy Sculpture Park, a fun take on British Modernist sculpture created from entirely from fabric.

The community have been getting involved as artists for Light Night this year through Playful Leeds’ March of the Robots project. Workshops will be held around Leeds during September, culminating in an exciting exhibition of work on Victoria Gardens on Light Night.

Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Leeds City Council executive board member with responsibility for Digital and creative technologies, culture and skills said:

“Light Night is one of the highlights of the Leeds calendar of events, and it is fantastic to have the event returning for its 10th year.

“There is plenty on offer this year with events at a wide number of locations across the city centre, and also street food and outdoor entertainment to top the evening off. “

Keep up to date with all the confirmed artists for Light Night at www.lightnightleeds.co.uk and follow the team @LightNightLeeds via #artinthedark and at facebook.com/lightnightleeds

Light Night Leeds is organised by Leeds City Council’s arts development team in partnership with organisations and individual across the city, and is supported by Arts Council England Grants for the Arts.